Top 10 wicket-takers in Test cricket

James Anderson became the sixth bowler to join the elite cricketers in the 500-wicket club.

September 09, 2017 03:10 pm | Updated 03:11 pm IST

James Anderson became the sixth bowler to join the elite cricketers in the 500-wicket club. There are nine other cricketers in the 400-wicket club.

The top three slots are being held by the spinners viz. two leg spinners and a off-spinner. Muttiah Muralitharan leads the table with 800 wickets followed by Shane Warne (708) and Anil Kumble (619). Glen McGrath (563), Courtney Walsh (519) and James Anderson (501) are the other bowlers in the 500-wicket club.

The fastest bowler to reach the 400 wickets is Sir Richard Hadlee. He played only 86 matches for his 431 wickets. Kapil Dev broke the record and became the highest wicket-taker for some time.

Here we look at the top-10 wicket-takers in Test cricket

Sri Lankan cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan, right, celebrates after he claimed his 800th test wicket with the dismissal of Indian cricketer Pragyan Ojha during the first cricket test match against India in Galle, Sri Lanka, Thursday, July 22, 2010. Muralitharan has become the first bowler to take 800 test wickets, reaching the milestone on the last ball of his test career. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lankan cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan, right, celebrates after he claimed his 800th test wicket with the dismissal of Indian cricketer Pragyan Ojha during the first cricket test match against India in Galle, Sri Lanka, Thursday, July 22, 2010. Muralitharan has become the first bowler to take 800 test wickets, reaching the milestone on the last ball of his test career. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Muttiah Muralitharan has played 133 Tests for his 800 wickets at an average of 22.72.

Australia in India 2004, 2nd Test at MAC Stadium 14-18th October: Shane Warne who claimed the World Record on the second day of the second test on Friiday. Photo:V_V_Krishnan. (15/10/2004) Digital Nikon D2H

Australia in India 2004, 2nd Test at MAC Stadium 14-18th October: Shane Warne who claimed the World Record on the second day of the second test on Friiday. Photo:V_V_Krishnan. (15/10/2004) Digital Nikon D2H

 

Shane Warne has played 145 Tests for his 708 wickets at an average of 25.41.

India_England-Mohali Test 2006-India's Anil 
kumble asks for the ball on getting his 500th wicket by dismissing Steve Harmison on day 3 of the 2nd test match between India and England at the PCA Stadium in Mohali on Saturday (11/03/2006) . Photo:S_Subramanium

India_England-Mohali Test 2006-India's Anil kumble asks for the ball on getting his 500th wicket by dismissing Steve Harmison on day 3 of the 2nd test match between India and England at the PCA Stadium in Mohali on Saturday (11/03/2006) . Photo:S_Subramanium

 

Anil Kumble played 132 Tests for his 619 wickets at an average of 29.65.

Australia in India 2004, 3rd Test at VCA Stadium, Nagpur from 26-30th October:Glen McGrath celebrates a wicket of Mohd Kaif with team-mates. Photo:V_V_Krishnan. (28/10/2004) Digital Nikon D2H

Australia in India 2004, 3rd Test at VCA Stadium, Nagpur from 26-30th October:Glen McGrath celebrates a wicket of Mohd Kaif with team-mates. Photo:V_V_Krishnan. (28/10/2004) Digital Nikon D2H

Glen McGrath stands 4th in the list with 563 wickets in 124 matches at an average of 21.64.

Fast bowler Courtney Walsh in action during the MRF Pace Fever contest held at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Madras on September 23, 1989.
PHOTO: THE HINDU ARCHIVES/N. SRIDHARAN

Fast bowler Courtney Walsh in action during the MRF Pace Fever contest held at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Madras on September 23, 1989. PHOTO: THE HINDU ARCHIVES/N. SRIDHARAN

Walsh stands 5th with 519 wickets at an average of 24.44 in 132 matches.

England's James Anderson celebrates taking his 500th test wicket on the second day of the third test match between England and the West Indies at Lord's cricket ground in London, Friday, Sept. 8, 2017. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

England's James Anderson celebrates taking his 500th test wicket on the second day of the third test match between England and the West Indies at Lord's cricket ground in London, Friday, Sept. 8, 2017. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

James Anderson, still playing, has taken 501 wickets in 129 matches at an average of 27.61.

Kapil Dev Nikhanj, born in Chandigarh, India in 1959, made his debut for Haryana in the Ranji Trophy during 1975-76, aged 16 years, taking 6 for 39. He made his debut for Northants in 1981 and has played in 41 Tests for India between 1978-79 and 1982. Has toured to England, Australia and New Zealand and is the youngest player to take 100 wickets in Test cricket (21 years 25 days) and score 1000 runs (21 years 27 days). Has recorded a Test score of 126 against West Indies in Delhi in 1978-79 and 103 against Sussex at Eastbourne in 1982. He took 7 for 56 against Pakistan in Madras in 1979-80 and 5 for 39 in the India versus Nottinghamshire tour match in 1982. Photo shows Kapil Dev in action. (Picture dated August 18, 1983).
PHOTO: THE HINDU ARCHIVES

Kapil Dev Nikhanj, born in Chandigarh, India in 1959, made his debut for Haryana in the Ranji Trophy during 1975-76, aged 16 years, taking 6 for 39. He made his debut for Northants in 1981 and has played in 41 Tests for India between 1978-79 and 1982. Has toured to England, Australia and New Zealand and is the youngest player to take 100 wickets in Test cricket (21 years 25 days) and score 1000 runs (21 years 27 days). Has recorded a Test score of 126 against West Indies in Delhi in 1978-79 and 103 against Sussex at Eastbourne in 1982. He took 7 for 56 against Pakistan in Madras in 1979-80 and 5 for 39 in the India versus Nottinghamshire tour match in 1982. Photo shows Kapil Dev in action. (Picture dated August 18, 1983). PHOTO: THE HINDU ARCHIVES

Kapil Dev became the second bowler in the history to reach 400-wicket mark. He took 434 wickets at an average of 29.64 in 131 matches.

Bowling action of New Zealand cricketer Richard Hadlee.
(Undated)
PHOTO: THE HINDU ARCHIVES

Bowling action of New Zealand cricketer Richard Hadlee. (Undated) PHOTO: THE HINDU ARCHIVES

Sir Richard Hadlee became the fastest and first bowler to reach the 400 wicket mark. He took 431 wickets in 86 matches at an average of 22.29.

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA - JANUARY 3:  Shaun Pollock of South Africa appeals for a wicket during Day Two of the Third test between South Africa and India at the Sahara Park Newlands Stadium on January 3, 2007 in Cape Town, South Africa.  (Photo by Tertius Pickard/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA - JANUARY 3: Shaun Pollock of South Africa appeals for a wicket during Day Two of the Third test between South Africa and India at the Sahara Park Newlands Stadium on January 3, 2007 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Tertius Pickard/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

South African Shaun Pollock played 108 Tests for his 421 wickets. His average is at 23.11.

South Africa's bowler Dale Steyn, watches his delivery on the fourth day of their second cricket test match against New Zealand at Centurion Park in Pretoria, South Africa, Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

South Africa's bowler Dale Steyn, watches his delivery on the fourth day of their second cricket test match against New Zealand at Centurion Park in Pretoria, South Africa, Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Another South African Dale Steyn played 85 matches for his 417 wickets at an average of 22.30

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